Rectifier for alternating electric currents.



C. GILBERT 6L EJ. ORNOLD. l

RECHNER Foa ALATERNAUNG ELECTRIC cuRRENTs. I APPLICA'IION cILED'JIW. I4. 1916;

1,239,588, A PatentedSept. 11, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. GlLBER & E. l. ORNOLD.

RECTIFIER FOR ALTERNATING ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

APPLICATION F|LED`1AN I4. 1916.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917A.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES.-

C. GILBERT L E. J. ORNOLD.

RECHNER FOR` ALTERNATING ELEcTRlc CURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED .\AN.14|1915.

Pmmedsept. 11,1917.

."4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UI@ IN VEA/TOR WITNESSES.-

ELPPLICAYLION FILED MEI. 145. HHS,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N VEN @Zark 'f QWEZZZ//z'm @ST ,l WE .nw mm... m@ k* s tended dead plates with brushes movable.

UNITED STATE-.s renner caricia.

CLARK GILBERT, OF BRIDGEPORTQIO, AND EDWIN J. ORNOLD, 0F WHEELING, IFJEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO RANDOLPH STALNAKER, 0F WHEELING,

'WEST VIRGINIA.

REC'IIFIER FOR ALTERNATING ELECTRIC CURRENIS.

Application led January 14, 1916.

VTo alli/whom t may concern: Be it known that we, CLARK GILBERT and EDWIN J. ORNOLD, citizens of the United.

- Ohio and West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Rectifier for Alternating Electric Currents, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to rectifiers for alternating electric currents, and its object is to rovide a rectifying commutator and means or driving it, as well as a recti- 'f'ying system whereby the voltage of the direct current produced, is sensibly constant, varying onlyr with the grosser variations of the source of alternating current and with even such grosser variations smoothed out to a material extent.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a commutator having eX- along the dead plates in a direction'transverse to the direction of movement of the plates and also in the direction of movement of the plates, so that by the movement of the brushes transverse to the direction of movement of the plates the voltageof the I'direct current with respect to that of the alternating current may be varied and by movement of the brushes either forward or backward with relation to the direction of lmovement of vthe plates, there may be comtween the current supplied to the means for Vdriving the commutator and the current supplied to the 'commutator itself, should such'diference be present.

In connection with the rectifying commutator, the invention contemplates the use of a set of contact brushes in multiple with the main brushes in order to avoidl the formation of arcs between the segments and brushes. Furthermore, the system of the present invention contemplates electromechanical means connected across the direct current mains coming from the rectifying commutator so as to absorb the high peaks of electrical Waves and 'give o' current at Specication of Letters Patent. Patgntd Seht, 11s 1917u Serial No. 72,096.

the low peaks because of the inertia of the moving parts of the electromechanical means.

The invention also contemplates In for driving the rectifying commutator the form of a self-starting anti-huntin3 synchronous motor having means associated therewith for the production in' one member of the motor of unidirectional currents at synchronous speed, vsaid means including indicating means for showing the polarity of such unidirectional current.

Since the rectifier of the present invention is pecularily adapted for the charging of' storage batteries and for use where the direction of flow of the direct current is of importance, the features named are of importance.

The invention 'will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified vso long as such changes and modifications come within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:-

l Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rectifying unit embodying features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section with some parts in elevation of' the structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 'of Fig. 2. f

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fic'. 2.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the system of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of rectifying commutator showing it in drum type.

Fig. 7 is a displayed view of the commutator drum of Fig. 6.

The rectif'ying unit consists of a synchronous motor A of special construction and compactes,

e casino y screws or Way, parts se 'liar de ane motor is concer ed, may or, suitable construe on an and modified be or ion devices,v nearing i are oeils 16 re 'and number f on the pole lpieees of snaable shape, gage of of t is, in accordance Wi e employed5 d on the shaft 46 `Within the motor is a. rotor 1'? having a lar t t body f l 'fil 'pole pieces eaen o ing coil i9 of a number oi? turns and gage of conforming to current be nsed The coils held in place by bandsf() which ni ry consist of Wire Wound about he rotor with int eised sheets -21 of inselating;V material," such as vulcanized liber engaging the coils iig-preventing these coils rorn being dislodged .by centrifugal force, The bands are electrically connected tothe rotor pole-pieces and constitute closed circuits of lower resistance aiding in overcoming distorting forces which may be set np in 'the rotor.

'lvlointed on the shaft 6 is a cemm'ntator 22"* having plates 23 cross eonnectedand. equal ne eleet-ric our 'the eef??J the sf as 'the same as the other. ln .finge the ator is r pole pieces four '1 qtor has el direction away fier rThe spaces are in the nat e elongated "ecesses 'angcd diagonaliv i aator ano, forming chan rough which air y circinato. of the diagonal dis o tion ot these chan .o

fation, air streams to the d`rection of f ongh them and thc;

rotor. 8 0

caused to circulate by aid in extingn might possibly be ca- *een the e1 `fates or bloelrs Mounted on the face plate '7 is a ring @f7 'i surrounding the C the face' plate "5' l the rin) may l purposes of ad clamp plate 28, so tated about its axis y ment, but will be hel in adjusted 'posia by the friction oi ring 27 and clar 'plate or ring' Q8 on `Jhe face plate 7. course, any other rreans whereby the ring; may be rotatably ad, ated may be used andV Will be Vimderstocd that the ring 27 is indicative of any table carrier for the purpose for which s intended. Extern'lM through the 27 are brushes Q9 :3ft as carbon urged against the commi tor 22 by springs 30. The pei Jicular foi-n of brusl the manner of ineinting them is imma4 terial t0 the present invention, and hence any suitable type of brushes and mountin,T 'therefor may be "as In the showing e drawings each brush 29 where engagng the commutator'lias narrowed extension 3l a little Wider than the slot or recess fl.- betyveen the commntator plates, so that the brushes may briibe the spaces between the plates for a smal; fractional part of the rotative movement of he commntator.

rlhe ring 27 Carries rods or pins 32 carry# ing brushes 33, 34, bearing Upon respectim" .rings 35., 3G mounted on the sleeve 26 and separated by a ringE S37 et insulating ma terial, thereby preventing any liability of engagement ofthe brushes 33 and 34 with each other. Connected to the brushes 233 and 34 are conductors 38, 39, i spectivcly, leadingto a switch 40 designed to connect these conductors to other conductors 4l, 4 in turn connected to plates 43, 44 of ir aluminum, respectively, dipping in siii-'table material, such solution 45 of bicarbonate of sodium contained in a vessel/46. The plates 43 and 44.

dipping in the solution 45 constitute a polarized resistance which maybe replaced by other known formsof polarized resistance, the particular one described with reference to the drawings being but lone of several polarized resistance suitable for the .l purpose of the present invention. Branched across the conductors 38 and 39 is a polarity indicator 47 of known form'V The stator coils 16 are connected in series 23 are cross connected as indicated in Fig. 5 and the brushes 29 are cross connected by conductors 48, while the respective pairs of segments 23 are connected by respective conductors 35a and 36 to the respective collecting rings 35 and 36, these various connections being indicated in Fig. 5. .Y

One end of the series of coils19 is .connected by a conductor 49 to one cross connected pair of commutator plates 23, which pair of plates is connected by the conductor 36al to the ring 36. The other end of the series of c'oils`19 is' connected by a conductor 50 to the other cross` connected pair of`commutator lsegments 23, and this last-named pair of segments is. connected b`y the conductor 35a to the ring 35. One end of thev series of statorcoils 16 is connected by a conductor 51 to one cross connected pair ofr brushes 29, while the other cross connected pair of brushes is connected by a conductor 51el through a switch 52 to an alternating current main 53, the other main 54 being Open and on closing the switch 52 to start connected by a conductor 55 to the other end of the series of coils 16.

On starting the motor the switch 40 is the motor, the motor is then a commutating series and inductiontype oi" single'phase motor, the stator and rotor coils being in series. The motor is under the conditions named a self` starting motor, the switch 40 being open and will run near Synchronous speed with the switch open, but may vary slightly from suchv speed. Y

When the motor reaches synchronous speed and is in the proper phase step, which will be shown by the indicator 47, the switch 40 is closed, whereupon the motor will run synchronously. Should the moto'r not be in proper phase step when the switch 40 is closed, the polarized resistance represented by the plates 43, 44 and solution 45 will short circuit the rotor, wherefore there being magnetic eliect only in opposition to the rotor the motor will quickly stop. To start the motor again the switch 40 must be opened.

The polarized resistance being bridged across the commutator gaps absorbs the arc and forces all current through the rotor lspondingly lowering the eficienc i force produced by residual magnetism at the coils when the rotor is in proper phase step, thus producing an equal magnetic effect in all the pole tips, since all the current going vr,due to the short circuiting thereof vby the brushes. The amount of current producing the arcs would, therefore, be taken from the rotor coils Vthus loweringthe magnetic strength of the rotor pole tips and correof the motor, besides shortening the life o the commutator and the brushes.

The wire-bands 20 commonly used to hold the rotor coils in place are electrically conynected to the rotor pole tips and serve as short circuits, thus giving the rot-or an induction effect in starting. When the motor reaches synchronous speed the short circuiting bandsprevent the stator poles from demagnetizing the vrotor poles, since the segments 23 act as a rectifier and allow only intermittent direct current to ilow through the rotor coils`19 when the brushes are properly set in relation to the pole tips.

In the motor of the .present -invention where the same current going through the stator coils also goes through the rotor coils, they both vary simultaneously from zero to maximum with the zero point occurring when both4 rotor and stator poles are in line, as in Fig. 5. ,The maximum current flow is when the rotorI pole tips are intermediate of the stator pole tips. The re- 100 versal of current takes place when the rotorI and stator pole tips are in line. Care is taken to get the distance between the pole tips equal-to the width of the pole tips.

In the particular arrangementshown in Fig. 5 the rotor 'will start clockwise, as indicated by the arrow. Any further movement short circuits the commutator bars 23 by the brushes 29. The back electromotive pole tips is mainly absorbed by the short cir- Cuited bands 20. `When the bars 23 pass under the brushes the current begins to build up in the coils 16 and 19, being of equal strength because the coils are in series, until the maximum strength is reached, the rotor pole tips being then about midway between the stator pole tips and then decreases until the pole tips face one another. lt is because of this condition that the motor persistently runs in synchronism.

-Spaced from the journal bearing 9 on the side thereof remote from the motor A is another liournal bearing 56 on a suitable standard 57 and inclosing anti-friction d'evices 58 supporting theCorrespending;` end of the shaft 6. which is extended from the flange l2 suliiciently for the purpose.

Mounted on that portion of the sli between the standards 10 and 57 is a sleeve jg; @escasas 59 having anti-friction rollers 66 between the shattand sleeve, the rollers being suitably spaced by a spacing sleeve 61 or any antifrictionbearings 60. At the other end,

which is the end toward the motor A, the sleeve 59 terminates in a radially extended flange 68 having diametrically opposite recesses 64 in the face toward the flange 12 for the purpose. of receiving -the 4lugs 13.`

The recesses 64 are made of somewhat greater circumferential extent than the lugs 13, so that there maybe a small amount of rotative play between the sleeve 59 and the shaft 6.

Mounted on the sleeve 59 but separated therefrom by insulation 64a, are two collector rings or sleeves65, 66, respectively.

AThe ring 65 is axially elongated in the particular showing of the drawings to provide 'a broad bearing surface, and at the end toward the ring 66 is formed with or has attached to it diametrically opposite segments 67, each'in the particular showing of the drawings including an arc of several degrecs. f

The 'ring 66 is also axially elongated and at the end toward the ring 65 has formed on or carries diametrically opposite segments 68 of similar extent to the segments 67 and disposed on a diameter-at right angles to the somewhat less circumferential extent than the segments 67 and 68, whichlatter may be all of substantially equal size. The segments 69 are all in the same plane with the segments 67 and 68'but are insulated therefrom at the adjacent edges and are also insulated from the rings and 66, wherefore the segmentsl 69'may be termed dead segments.

Furthermore, all the segments are surrounded by a retaining ring 70 between which and the segments insulation 71 is interposed. A Mounted in the journal bearing 56 is a rock arm 72 constituting a brush holder capable of being rocked about the axis of the shaft 6.l Carried by the arm 72 through the intermediary of a rod 7 8 or other'suitable means, are divergent arms 7 4 each earrying a block slidable lengthwise of the respective arm 74 and provided with a set screw 76, or other means, whereby the block may be temporarily secured at any suitable point along the respective arm 74. Each block 75 has secured thereto a brush holder 70 77 of suitable shape to carry a collecting brush 78, usually in the form of a carbon block and the brush is urged in one direc tion by a spring 79. Each block 75 has a projecting portion 80 in straddling relation 75 to the segments carried by the sleeve 59 and each projection 8O is formed with a brush holder 81, a collecting brush 82 and a spring 83. The arrangement is such that brushes 78 and 82 bearupon the segments 67, 68 and 80 69 from opposite faces thereof, whereby ample bearing surface of the brushes upon the segments is provided,

There is a pair of brushes carried by each arm 74 and these brushes are in about 90o 85 relation to the axis of rotation of the series of segments 67 ,.68 and 69 constituting the rectifying commutator of the machine.

Bearing upon thecollector, ring 65 is a pair of' collecting brushes 84 mounted in 90 holders 85 carried by an arm 86 mounted on a rod 87, which may be of insulating material or from which the holders are suitably insulated, and the rod 87 is mounted on a suitable part of the machine, as, for in- 95 stance, in brackets 88 made fast to the base portions of the standards 10 and 57. The brushes 84 are urged toward the ring 65 by springs 89. Another pair of brushes 90 bear upon the ring 66 and are provided with a 100 holder 91 mounted on the 'rod 87. Two brushes are employed to give the broad surface contact and it will be understood that other arrangements may be used for the same purpose. 105

. `One set of brushes 78 and 82 is connected to a conductor 92 and the other set oi brushes is connected to a conductor 93, and these con ductors lead to. a switch 94 by means of which they may be coupled up to the alter- 110 nating current mains 53 and 54.

The brushes bearing upon the collecting ring 65 are connected to one direct current lead 95 and the brushes bearing upon the other collecting ring 66 are connected to the 115 other direct current lead 96. Branched between the direct current leads 95 and 96 is a shunt wound direct current motor 97 carrying a fly-wheel accumulator 98.

nstead of the arran I ent describedl with 120 relation te, the Nrecti ying commutator B, which in the drawings in Figs. 1 to 5 is indicated as of disk type, it may be of cylindrical type indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. In such cylindrical' form there are cylindrical 125 collecting rings 651, 66n with the ring 65 having circumferentially spaced tapering continuations 67a corresponding to the segments 67,' while thering 66n has expanding continuations 68' corresponding to the seg- 4130 ments 68 of the other figures. The extensions 67a and 68a are located between the rings 65a and (i6a in interspersed relation and are separated by correspondingly tapering or expanding insulation segments 69a having the same function as the insulated segment 69 ofthe structure of Figs. 1 to 5. Brushes 84a and 90a bear y-upon rings v65a, (StrL and carrier 72, and this brush is arranged in multiple with and close to the main rectifier brushes on .the alternating side thereof,

whereby liability of-an arcvfollowing the main brushes is avoided. //A

-The rectifier brushes engaging the recti- 1 fier commutator segments have their sides radial 4to the axis ofrotation of the rectifier, or parallel'with the."crresponding sides of the rectifier commutator plates, .so that they make and break circuit therewith substantially along the entire length of the respective brushesf` Assuming that the motor A is running in the proper direction at synchronous speed, the rectifier commutator is constructed to rotate at the same speed because of the connection or coupling due to the lugs 13 a 1d recessesv 64, except that there may be a /s ght displacement circumferentially of the motor and rectifying commutator due to the loose lit of the lugs 13 in the recesses 64. The loose coupling thus provided permits any .lag in the rotor of the motor to be taken up by the heavy moving parts of the rectifying commutator and any lead in the rotor to be retarded `in like manner. The rectifying commutator may therefore be considered as -rotating synchronously with the motor and the latter as rotating synchronously with the cycles of the alternating current as modifled by the number of poles of the motor, the segments of the rectifying commutator being the same as the number of poles of the motor.

When theparts are all properly adjusted, the direct current delivered to the mains 95 and 96, due to the rectification of the alternating current fed to the rectifying commutator, is sensibly constant, and is. particularly adapted for the charging' vof storage batteries and for other purposes where such a current is demanded..

1 The adjustment of the main brushes of the rectifying commutator whereby the engagement of the brushes with the rectifying commutator segments may be made to lead er lag, permits adjustment for differences '1fvphase relation should such relation occur any reason. The radial adjustment or t e e: lua

collecting brushes of the rectifying commutator permits variations in voltage in the direct current. For instance, the contact brushes may be made to break -contact with the live segments at an earlier period and make contact at a later period, which will result in .reducing the voltage, while the reverse will be true in an adjustment of the brushes in the opposite direction radial -to that first considered. In the radialor disk like commutat'or structure the nearer the brushes are to the periphery of the disk the vlower the voltage. In the cylindrical form of commutator the same resultis brought about in the particular showing of Figs. 5 and 6 by shifting the brushes 7 8a toward the right hand end of the cylindrical recti fying commutator.

In the synchronous motorstructure the diagonally arranged slots or grooves 24 between the adjacent ends of the commutatbr plates 23 contribute materially to Aavoiding --th'e establishment of arcs between the plates 23 4because of the air currents directed through these slots o r grooves by the rotation of the motor commutator, thus blowing out any'arc which may be formed.

Suchy irregularities as may`occur in th'e uniformity of the direct currentare ina large part taken care of by the fly wheel accumulator represented by the motor 97. Thismotor tends to flatten out-any high peaks by its resistance to change any speed and to fill in any low peaks by acting as a i generator and supplying current to the direct current mains.

Provision is made for large surface of contact and large carrying capacity in the rectifying commutator7 so that it may be Icapable of rectifying large -currents even though the rectifier in its mechanical construction be of relatively small size.

What is claimed is 1. A rectifier for alternating electricl currents comprising a series wound synchronous motor, a rotatable series of contact segments connected to the motor, for actuation therel. by, dead segments interposed between and' separating the first-named segments, and contact brushes on the alternating current s ide in position to engage the segments with the brushes contacting with' the dead segments through the zero portions of the alternating current waves.

2. A rectifying structure for alternating. electric currents, Comprising a synchronous series Wound motor provided with a commutator and 'with a polarized resistance bridged across the commutator of the motor, and a rotatable rectifier connected to and driven by the motor.

3. il rectifyiiig structure for alternating electric currents, 'comprising a vs vncln'omms self-sturting alteifriting current motor.y a polarized resisf'zance, and means for bridging ltatable rectifier, and lost motion ccnncc motor, ro-

tions it acres between the motah and rectifier. l

f4. t rectifying system ii'or alternating electric currents comprising an alternating current self-starting synchronous motor, a rotatable rectifier for the alternati g ourrents cc nected to the' motor for actuation thereby, and a shunt Wound direct current number ofsegmentsas roto-r coils,'cross con-- nccted brushes for the commutator with the stator and' rotor coils 'connected' in series through the' c ommutator and' brushes, and a polarizedl resistance provided with connectionsand asWi'tch for branching said resistance across =the cross connected commutator segments.'A

y6. An alternating'current motor having.

a stator" and 'rotor each provided with the same 'number of coils and vpoles with the coils connected iii series, a cross connected commiitatonfor the rotor having the same numberof segments as rotor coils, cross connectedfbrushes for the commutator With the stator and rotor coils connected in series through the commutator and brushes, and a polarized resistance provided With connections and a switch for branching said resistance across .the cross connected commutator segments, the polarized resistance connections also including a polarity indicator branchedthereacross on the commutator side l of theswitfch. "f

segments as rotor coils, cross co `7.. An falternating current synchronous motor comprising a stator and rotor each number of coils and pole pieces ciUU cuits of low resin.` commutator tor th brushes for 'the commntator equal in number-` to the commutator segments, and a polar ized resistance having means for including it in shunt relationA to the commutator seg.- ments.

8. An alternating current synchronous motor comprising a stator and rotor each with the same number of coils and pole pieces as the other' and with the coils of each connected in series, the rotor having the pole pieces electrically s connected by short circuits of low resistance, a cross connected comm'utatorfor the rotor having as many segments as rotor coils, cro connected brushes for, the commutator equal in nlunber to the commutator segments, and a `vpolarized' resistance having means for including it in shunt relation to the commutator segments, said commutator segments having their adjacent ends spaced apart and arranged. at an angle to the direction of roltation.

9. An alternating current synchronous motor comprising a stator and rotor each with the same number of coils and pole piecesas the other and With the coils of each connected in series, the rotor having the poleA pieces electrically connected by 4short circuits of low resistance, a cross connected commutator for the roipr having as many segments as rotor coils, cross connected brushes for the commutator equal in number to the commutator segments, and a polarized resistance having means for including it in shunt relation to the commutator segments, saidl commutator segments having their adjacent ends spaced apart and arranged at an angle to the direction of rotation, and the motor being also provided with a polarity indicator branched ,across the commutator segment connections.

In testimony, that We claim the foregoing as our own, We have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARK GILBERT. EDWIN J. ORNOLD. 

